The Sunday herald., 1887-01-16
THE PASSING HOUR.

A Paris letter says that Mrs. james Brown Potter,
living with her mother and sister at the annex OF
the Hotel du Louvre, Is diligently pursuing her
studies, bu, still protests that she has no Idea OF
adopting the stage as a profession Her connden.
she, stutter and stammer when Manager Abbcys
offer OF 100000 Is mentioned, beat about the bush
and give evasve answers.
Nils Itaugcn, the Norwegian who hasbecn nomi-
mated for Congress to succeed the late W. r. Price,
Of Wisconsin, will be one OF tho great men OF the
Fifeih Congress, so far as sizc goes. 1ieis6fect4
aud weighs 800 pounds. lie owes his greatness
mainly to ns county, as ne Is no, much q, Mos
he came to America when he was baby, and was
educated to be an American In speech and hahits.
Arbor, Mich class OF IA Helsa fine stenograrher,
and made his living at court reporting for several
ss nns ana since s has Been state Railroad
Commissioner lie has big, round, moon face,
and is very light In complexion.
Congressman Belmont is 10 be credited with new
device in spoils.seekinq. He won't soil his own
hands, but will have fiisn to do 1t for him. The
Washington correspondent OF the Brooklyn EdgIe
says: "Perry Belmont has taken decided stand
against the spollsmen. Last election he had the
pluck to say that he declined any longer TO- spend
his time IN washington seeking positions for the
services OF man whose duty il should bc 10 devote
himself to that kind Of work. but he was not willing
to give II personal attention, as there were other
matters OF greater concern claiming his considera-
ton. 1t required nerve to make speech like this
to nominating convention, and there is no doubt
Young &C Consfessma many " voes but even MI those
who abused him most had TO respect the indepen.
Is as good as his word. what he SAID no meant.
Il have absolutely declined he said last night. 10
pay any attention whatever to the demands OF once.
seekers. keep man here to attend TO that sort Of
business, and II Ia distinct understanding with
the people Of my district that doso, am willing
to sign petitions when consider applicants worthy
Of Endorsement, but this running around about the
Departments In search OF PLACES cannot be tx; TX,
pected to do and will noi:' Yet II cannot be said
that the Democrats Of Long Island are losing much.
Il Mr. Belmont does not himself pay attention 10
the demands OF oiilceseekers, the person who dot
ellciency. There Ia hardly post office on Long
Island that Ia not In chargeof one Of the Congress-
mans friends; the Lite Saving setvice shows a
Internal Revenue and Railway Mail Service are
both 5ouniifu sources of supply to the adherens OF
the Queens representative.
"Thereare over $4,000 bands In this country" said
Mr. John Philip sousa, the leader Of the Marine Band
to a Brooklyn Eagle reporter, "andthey are about
evenly distributed, with New York and Pennsylvania
In the lead. Ia the Marine Band stationed In Wash.
lngton there are thirty eight men, and the salaries
paid are sos per month for the lrst-class talent,
band IL good one, but It Is impossible to keep nrst
rate men at the rate OF wages paid by the Govern.
ment. AS soon as 0ur musicians become proficient
they leave ue, as is partly shown by the fact that In
six years there have been forty changes IN baud Of
| thirty eight men. The demand for skilled musi
playing opera thirty years ago there are nifty to-day
and where there was opportunity for one musician
to make living then there are opportunities fol
hundreds now. Bands af watering places
were unknown In those days and the chances
of profitable employment for musicians were
comparatively scarce. To-day even some OF
| our factories have them for the edhcalon
| Of employees, and perhaps as an advertisement also
The consequence is that 1t Is Impossible to get good
talent without paying good wages. The salaries Of
| the members OF our band are miserable. An ordi.
nary musician could make as much in week as we
pay In month, and this is striking when 1t is con
sidered that the MariLe is the national band and is
brought Into competition with the best in the coun
| try on all big occasions. Secretary Whitney has
been very Kind to the organization, appreciates the
difficulties which 1t has had to encounter, and is
| anxious that 1t should be strengthened. Last win
ter lost my arst oboe player and required another
| basso. wrote twenty letters and got several re
plies, but when, n turn, stated the salary paid my
| correspondents dropped out Of sight. Then / semi
| to Europe aud received an answer from an agency
stating that two competent men could he supplied
at s24 per month each. We'll, they came to America
| and were seized IN New York as soon as they
| landed. Recently heard from them to the effec,
| that they were comfortably situated and did not
| care to come to Washington"